Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

urge

American  
[urj] / ɜrdʒ /

verb (used with object)

urged, urging
  1. to push or force along; impel with force or vigor.

    to urge the cause along.

    Antonyms:
    deter
  2. to drive with incitement to speed or effort.

    to urge dogs on with shouts.

    Antonyms:
    deter
  3. to press, push, or hasten (the course, activities, etc.).

    to urge one's escape.

    Antonyms:
    deter
  4. to impel, constrain, or move to some action.

    urged by necessity.

    Synonyms:
    spur, stimulate, goad, incite
    Antonyms:
    discourage
  5. to endeavor to induce or persuade, as by entreaties; entreat or exhort earnestly.

    to urge a person to greater caution.

    Antonyms:
    discourage
  6. to press (something) upon the attention.

    to urge a claim.

  7. to insist on, allege, or assert with earnestness.

    to urge the need of haste.

    Synonyms:
    asseverate, aver
  8. to press by persuasion or recommendation, as for acceptance, performance, or use; recommend or advocate earnestly.

    to urge a plan of action.


verb (used without object)

urged, urging
  1. to exert a driving or impelling force; give an impulse to haste or action.

    Hunger urges.

  2. to make entreaties or earnest recommendations.

  3. to press arguments or allegations, as against a person, action, or cause.

    The senator urged against the confirmation of the appointment.

noun

  1. an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.

  2. an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse.

    the sex urge.

urge British  
/ ɜːdʒ /

verb

  1. (tr) to plead, press, or move (someone to do something)

    we urged him to surrender

  2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to advocate or recommend earnestly and persistently; plead or insist on

    to urge the need for safety

  3. (tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwards

    he urged the horses on

  4. archaic (tr) to stimulate, excite, or incite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • overurge verb
  • unurged adjective
  • unurging adjective
  • urgingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of urge

First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The proposal also urges restoring “normal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz and safeguarding civilian sites and critical infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, as well as peaceful nuclear infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the video message showed "a lack of compassion", while politicians in French-speaking Quebec urged Rousseau to resign.

From BBC

Fox described the report as a "call to action" and urged the next Welsh government to accept all 35 of its recommendations.

From BBC

She urged the NI Executive to "lower the screening age to 50 without delay".

From BBC

He urged Lebanon and Israel to use the Unifil mechanism for dialogue, saying "the bottom line is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon needs to be respected".

From BBC